Publication
How to Use JWT and Node.js for Better App Security
https://www.toptal.com/developers/json/jwt-nodejs-security
Gonzalo is currently unavailable
Gonzalo Hirsch
Verified Expert in Engineering
Full-stack Developer
London, United Kingdom
Toptal member since February 1, 2021
Bio
Gonzalo is an efficient and reliable full-stack developer who has worked with multiple tech stacks, such as AWS, to engineer the best solutions. In addition to winning innovation contests, Gonzalo is passionate about taking on projects that impact the world, being inspired by and inspiring others, and taking on new challenges. He has participated in many Java-based projects where he designed and implemented systems architecture, such as a digital payments API using AWS.
Portfolio
The Winston Project
JavaScript, Express.js, Netlify, CSS, Tailwind CSS, HTML, Vue, Hugo, Git...
IEEE Computer Society ITBA
JavaScript, Python, University Teaching, Agile Software Development, SQL, APIs...
Tech Consulting Firm
Java, C#, JavaScript, Vue, Python, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), AWS Lambda, Serverless...
Experience
- Java - 5 years
- Python - 5 years
- C - 5 years
- JavaScript - 4 years
- Full-stack - 4 years
- SQL - 3 years
- UI Design - 3 years
- NoSQL - 2 years
Work Experience
Full-stack Developer
2021 - PRESENT
The Winston Project
- Increased conversions by 3-4x by migrating university websites in the US to custom CMS-based websites using Gridsome's SSR for Vue.js and 11ty (CSS, HTML, Tailwind CSS, JavaScript, PostgreSQL).
- Captured more than 10,000,000 impressions by developing end-user applications for content discovery and community management clients.
- Reduced time to market by 65% and saved up to $4,500 per year by engineering, implementing, and optimizing architecture for application back ends with Node.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python.
- Experimented and studied the feasibility of features and created MVPs for back-end development.
- Engineered features and technologies during the design and development of a CMS front end and back end.
- Improved SEO scores by more than 40% by analyzing SEO performance.
- Improved overall site accessibility by more than 50%, complying with WCAG 2 guidelines.
Technologies: JavaScript, Express.js, Netlify, CSS, Tailwind CSS, HTML, Vue, Hugo, Git, GitHub, GitHub API, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Gridsome, Jamstack, Node.js, User Interface (UI), UI Design, User Experience (UX), UX Design, Front-end, Front-end Development, Vue SSR, SEO Tools, Accessibility, WCAG 2, Transloadit
Co-founder and Vice President
2019 - 2021
IEEE Computer Society ITBA
- Collaborated with the other founder to grow the society leadership team from two to twenty people.
- Recruited engineers with interesting profiles to apply and participate in the interview and selection process.
- Managed logistics and fundraising teams to ensure that sponsors were contacted properly and deadlines were met.
- Designed and taught two courses at the university: Introduction to Python and Django REST APIs.
Technologies: JavaScript, Python, University Teaching, Agile Software Development, SQL, APIs, Teamwork
Full-stack Developer
2018 - 2020
Tech Consulting Firm
- Developed and designed an API for a digital payments platform using Java and a full stack of AWS, including Lambda, Serverless, S3, DynamoDB, and CloudFront.
- Created a companion app for a digital payments platform using Apache Cordova and Vue.js.
- Developed a simple eCommerce app for a subscription magazine using C#, .NET, and ASP.
- Oversaw the correct deployment of multiple applications using Jenkins as a CI/CD platform for automating deployment pipelines.
- Designed and managed databases for applications, such as a building administration app, an eCommerce app for a subscription magazine, an internal tool used for data entry by an invoicing company, and a user management tool for an events company.
- Designed a mobile application to implement a proof-of-work system for a company, using location-based techniques to determine whether someone was inside the premises.
Technologies: Java, C#, JavaScript, Vue, Python, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), AWS Lambda, Serverless, Amazon DynamoDB, Microsoft SQL Server, .NET, Active Server Pages (ASP), Android, Full-stack, Web Server Development, Agile Software Development, NoSQL, SQL, Databases, CSS, SCSS, Sass, HTML, Front-end, APIs, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Back-end, User Interface (UI), Front-end Development, Git, Architecture, Node.js, Teamwork, MySQL, HTML5, Back-end Development, Database Design, Relational Databases, Amazon CloudFront CDN, Amazon Route 53, AWS Certificate Manager, Cordova
Project History
Social Network for Code Snippets
A Spring-based REST API in Java and a React single-page application (SPA) for people to share code snippets. The application was web-based and aimed to allow people to share their code freely.
I was the lead front-end and back-end developer and the designer for the system. Using Agile Scrum development, the whole application was built in approximately 5-6 weeks. The REST API was built using Spring and Jersey in Java and PostgreSQL as the persistence layer but abstracted using Hibernate ORM. The SPA was built using React, JavaScript, HTML, and SCSS.
I was the lead front-end and back-end developer and the designer for the system. Using Agile Scrum development, the whole application was built in approximately 5-6 weeks. The REST API was built using Spring and Jersey in Java and PostgreSQL as the persistence layer but abstracted using Hibernate ORM. The SPA was built using React, JavaScript, HTML, and SCSS.
App to Find Tutors Within a University
An Android-based application to find students willing to tutor other students in specific courses. The app was a marketplace for students who wanted to teach and students who need tutoring for their courses.
Using Firebase as the back end and Agile Scrum development, we rolled out the application in approximately three months. Although the project sparked interest in several universities, it was discontinued due to a lack of advertising.
Using Firebase as the back end and Agile Scrum development, we rolled out the application in approximately three months. Although the project sparked interest in several universities, it was discontinued due to a lack of advertising.
Web App for Restaurant Reviews
A full-stack solution for an application to review restaurants. Customers use the app to review restaurants, restaurant owners upload and reply to the restaurant reviews, and administrators have a dashboard with user and restaurant information.
I was the sole developer of the whole application. The back end was built using Django and the Django REST framework in Python with a PostgreSQL connection. The front-end was created using Vue.js.
I was the sole developer of the whole application. The back end was built using Django and the Django REST framework in Python with a PostgreSQL connection. The front-end was created using Vue.js.
Web Scraper for Google Directory
A Python-based web scraper extracts all the users in a Google Directory for organization accounts.
As the sole developer, I built the scraper using Python and Selenium. It successfully extracts all the users from the organization to run analyses over the dataset.
As the sole developer, I built the scraper using Python and Selenium. It successfully extracts all the users from the organization to run analyses over the dataset.
Web App for Trip Storing
A full-stack web app for trip planning. Users could upload their trips, make plans ahead of time, and have a specialized view for their upcoming trips.
I was the sole developer of the application. The back end was built with Django and the Django REST framework in Python, using PostgreSQL as persistence. The front end was built using Vue.js.
I was the sole developer of the application. The back end was built with Django and the Django REST framework in Python, using PostgreSQL as persistence. The front end was built using Vue.js.
URL Shortener Server
A Go-based URL shortener service that offered analytics on the available URL mappings. It collected metrics regarding the usage of the available URLs.
I was the sole developer of the project, which was entirely made in Go, and offered custom mappings for URLs.
I was the sole developer of the project, which was entirely made in Go, and offered custom mappings for URLs.
Proxy SOCKS v5 Server
A pure C-based proxy server for the SOCKS v5 protocol.
The server acted as a middleman for clients wanting to use the server to connect. It also collected data to generate metrics. Administrators could use a provided client connected to the server, using the SCTP protocol to access the remote management settings and alter variables at runtime.
I was a member of the development team that was designing the system.
The server acted as a middleman for clients wanting to use the server to connect. It also collected data to generate metrics. Administrators could use a provided client connected to the server, using the SCTP protocol to access the remote management settings and alter variables at runtime.
I was a member of the development team that was designing the system.
Education
2021 - 2022
Master's Degree in Software Engineering
Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) - Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017 - 2020
Bachelor's Degree in Software Engineering
Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Certifications
JANUARY 2023 - FEBRUARY 2026
AWS Solutions Architect Associate
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
DECEMBER 2016 - PRESENT
Advanced Subsidiary
University of Cambridge
DECEMBER 2015 - PRESENT
ICE Diploma
University of Cambridge
DECEMBER 2013 - PRESENT
B2 First
University of Cambridge
Skills
Libraries/APIs
Vue, Vuex, React, Node.js, GitHub API, Amazon API
Tools
GitHub, Git, Android Studio, CLion, Trello, Google Workspace, Slack, Amazon CloudFront CDN, Terminal, Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS), Amazon Lex, Amazon Simple Email Service (SES), Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), Amazon EKS
Languages
Java, SQL, C, JavaScript, Python, HTML, HTML5, Assembly, C#, CSS, SCSS, Sass, Go, Ruby, Active Server Pages (ASP), Solidity, TypeScript, Hugo, x64 Assembly
Paradigms
Database Design, Agile Software Development, Spatial Databases, UX Design, UI Design, Agile, REST, Jamstack
Platforms
OS X, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Android, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Firebase, AWS Lambda, Docker, Blockchain, Ethereum, Netlify
Storage
Redis, PostgreSQL, Relational Databases, Graph Databases, Databases, NoSQL, Amazon DynamoDB, Microsoft SQL Server, MongoDB, Neo4j, MySQL, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Elasticsearch, Amazon EFS
Frameworks
Django, Flask, Spring, Hibernate, Selenium, Django REST Framework, Redux, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), .NET, Jersey, Express.js, Tailwind CSS, Vue SSR
Other
Full-stack, Sorting Algorithms, Mathematics, APIs, Google Drive, Email, Optimization, Web Server Development, Physics, Front-end, Web Scraping, Back-end, User Interface (UI), Front-end Development, Architecture, Teamwork, Back-end Development, JetBrains IDE, User Experience (UX), Clustering Algorithms, Serverless, University Teaching, Amazon Route 53, AWS Certificate Manager, Scraping, Networking, SCTP, Proxies, Screen Scraping, Smart Contracts, Analytics, Gridsome, SEO Tools, Accessibility, WCAG 2, Transloadit, Cordova, Full-stack Development, SOCKS5, Infrastructure, Cloud, Cloud Infrastructure, Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure
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